Team

Since January 2017, Catherine Erkelens has founded the Aviation niche firm Erkelens Law.

She brings to the firm an experience of over 20 years working for the Aviation sector. As from 2003 until 2016, Catherine has been the co-head of an international firm’s international Aviation Group. She has developed a strong client base and leading reputation working for companies operating in or dealing with the Aviation & Aerospace sector, and was responsible for several landmark litigations with international impact.

Her experience includes regulatory, commercial and contentious advice in relation to airport economic regulation, airport charges, groundhandling, slot regulation, air traffic control, privatization of airports and ATM, security and safety, as well as the relationship between airlines, airports and other stakeholders, and the use of new technologies in the Aviation and Aerospace sectors. Catherine led a.o. the “Zaventem tax case” on airport charges, and other litigation related to: security charges, passenger service charges, the use of airport infrastructure, the liberalisation of the groundhandling market, air traffic control, commission for travel agents. She represents and assists airlines, airline associations, groundhandling service providers, airport services providers, airports, governmental bodies, technology service providers, communications services providers. Catherine also has in depth knowledge of Data Protection regulation and has worked on several Technology projects.

She is a member of the International Aviation Women’s Association, the European Aviation Club and the European Air Law Association. Erkelens Law is also an Associate Member of A4E.

Catherine’s Aviation practice has been top-tier ranked by EMEA LEGAL 500 since 2005.

Catherine was awarded the “Client Choice” Award 2018 for Aviation, Belgium.

Before that, she has been awarded the same “Client Choice” Award in 2017, and in 2016. Catherine also was awarded “Best in Aviation” by Euromoney’s European Women in Business Law in 2015, and before that in 2014.

Erkelens Law was awarded “Aviation Law Firm of the Year in Belgium”, by CorporateINTL in 2018, 2019, 2020 and again in 2021. Catherine has been listed among the “Global Elite Thought Leaders” EMEA for Aviation Regulatory by “Who’s Who Legal” Aviation 2019. She is listed among the Global Elite Thought Leaders by “ Who’s Who Legal” for Aviation in the “WWL Thought Leaders: Global Elite 2020” edition.

Stéphane specialises in EU Regulatory matters, including Data Protection law and EU Aviation law.

He advises clients on data protection matters, and assists them with contract negotiation, compliance projects and dispute resolution.

He obtained his Master in Law from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 2016, where he majored in EU and International Law. Stéphane wrote his master’s dissertation on the international legality of the economic sanctions applied by the EU against Russia.

He obtained a post graduate degree in Sports Management prior to qualifying with the Brussels Bar in 2018.

In September 2018, Stéphane co-represented the Brussels Bar in the ERA-CCBE Young Lawyers Contest for EU Law in Trier on 6-7 September 2018, where he was selected among the winners.